Call for Proposals
Deadline to Submit: January 20, 2025
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About The Conference
The Natural Start Alliance’s annual Nature-Based Early Learning Conference is a national gathering that brings together hundreds of new and seasoned nature-based early childhood education professionals from the U.S. and abroad. Sessions explore how to plan, implement, and advocate for nature-based early learning programs; discuss strategies to increase the diversity, accessibility, and inclusiveness of nature-based education; report on new and relevant research; share best practices in teacher education; explore education policy; and examine other topics that advance the field of nature-based early learning. The conference is held in person and online in alternating years. In 2025, the conference will be held online. Natural Start invites proposals for online (live and pre-recorded) sessions that advance innovation, quality, and equity in nature-based early childhood education.
The Natural Start Alliance requests proposals for sessions that:
- Are solution-oriented and include concrete takeaways
- Share new research, advances in practice, innovative ideas, or relevant case studies
- Promote equity and inclusion
- Target emerging, intermediate, or experienced professionals
- Reflect the practices described in the Nature-Based Preschool Professional Practice Guidebook
Audience
The Nature-Based Early Learning Conference draws several hundred attendees who are largely from the United States, but include participants from around the world. Most attendees are program administrators and educators. The conference also draws researchers, professors, education specialists (eg, special education providers), licensing agency representatives, landscape designers, policy experts, and other professionals in early childhood education and environmental education. Most attendees are well aware of the benefits of nature in education and therefore are not looking for introductory information, but instead seek new ways of thinking about nature-based education; strategies to expand the model; new tools and resources for safe, effective, and inclusive education; opportunities to connect with other professionals; and more.
Theme
This year’s conference theme is Rooted and Resilient. As we navigate changes in our systems and society, we invite proposals that honor the core of nature-based early childhood learning and also help the profession adapt to change at a variety of scales, from local to global. We particularly welcome proposals that address one or more of the following themes in nature-based education:
- Sustainability & Climate Education
- Environmental & Social Justice
- Advocacy
- K-3 Education
- Infants & Toddlers
- New Applications for the Nature-Based Education Model
Session Formats
All sessions will be held online in 2025. Sessions will be offered in both live and on-demand formats.
Live: Live sessions are 30-50 minutes in length and will be offered on Zoom during the live event, July 14-18, 2025. All live sessions will be recorded and available for viewing on-demand following the live event.
On-Demand: On-demand sessions are 30-50 minutes in length and include presentations and posters, which are download only. On-demand sessions will be pre-recorded and submitted by May 23, 2025, and will be available for viewing at any time throughout the conference and following the live event.
Session Types
Presentation
Presentations are traditional sessions, typically a talk or media presentation, exploring a topic relevant to nature-based early childhood education. (Live or On Demand)
Demonstration
Demonstrations share a specific technique, approach, or activity with attendees by showing how to do it and sharing instructions for participants to recreate on their own. (Live or On Demand)
Poster
Poster presentations report on the results of research, display a case study or resource, or are otherwise conveyed in a graphic format. Posters are offered as a download and can be accompanied by a short video or audio summary. (On Demand Only)
Session Strands
The conference will feature five thematic strands:
- Teaching (focused on teaching strategies in nature-based early childhood education)
- Administration (focused on administrative issues in nature-based early childhood education)
- Research (focused on early childhood environmental education research)
- Teacher Development (focused on efforts to prepare educators entering the field or that provide educators with ongoing training or support )
- Strategies for Change (focused on strategies for promoting equity and diversity, innovative partnerships, policy, and making the case for nature-based early learning)
Audio Visual Equipment
All presenters will need access to a reliable internet connection and, in all cases except poster sessions, a web camera. Natural Start cannot provide any audio-visual equipment.
Live sessions will be scheduled by Natural Start on the Natural Start Alliance/NAAEE Zoom account and will take place in Zoom meeting rooms, with all the tools available to any Zoom meeting, including polls, chat, and breakout rooms. All live sessions will have a dedicated room moderator for tech support.
On-demand sessions will be recorded in advance of the conference and must be submitted by May 23, 2025. Natural Start will work with presenters to schedule and/or upload session recordings once a session has been accepted.
Live and on-demand sessions can make use of outdoor environments if the presenter has the proper technology, tools, and connection needed to deliver a successful outdoor presentation.
Presenter Discount
Lead presenters of accepted proposals will receive a complimentary full conference registration. One registration will be offered per session.
Review Process and Notifications
A review committee will evaluate alignment of proposals with conference objectives, relevancy, clarity of learning objectives, overall quality of submission (all required questions answered completely and clearly, etc.), and consistency with accepted standards for effective adult learning. Notifications will be sent in March 2025. Accepted presenters must register by the presenter registration deadline to remain in the conference program.
Thank you for your interest in sharing your expertise with conference attendees. We look forward to seeing you there!